Plant Name Siberian Squill
Scientific Name Scilla Siberica
Family Asparagus (Formerly Hyacinth Family)
Plant Type Perennial
Start of Blooming Season April
End of Blooming Season May
-4- Sample images submitted by MIROFOSS
-0- Sample images submitted by others


Siberian Squill is a species of spring flowering plant that was formally placed in the Hyacinth family and moved, in 2009, to the asparagus family. Siberian Squill is native to the southwestern region of Russia, The Caucasus, and Turkey. The latin name of the genus scilla is named after the goddess Scylla of Greek mythology, a beauty who was tuned into a terrible sea monster. The species name siberica is named after 'Siberia' even though despite its name it is not native to Siberia. Due in part to the naming of the species after a Greek mythological character, many superstitious people have viewed siberian squill as a flower associated with witches and evil spirits and have avoided the plant as much as possible.


Siberian Squill is an ingredient in certain rodent poisons.

Within the realm of rational and holistic medicine, there is currently no historical, or current, uses for siberian squill.

Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that plants should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.


Siberian Squill is considered to be poisonous and should not be consumed.


Siberian Squill can grow in light (sandy) medium (loamy) or heavy (clay) soils, and prefers well drained soil. Siberian Squill can grow in acid, neutral, and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade and is known for attracting insects. Due to the toxicity of siberian squill, it is considered to be deer resistant. Siberian Squill is cultivated for its bluebell-like flowers. It naturalizes rapidly from seed. At 15cm in height, it is suitable for planting in grass, and will spread by seed to form large colonies that go dormant by the time grass needs to be mowed. In the Midwestern United States it is becoming invasive in some situations.

Soil Conditions
Soil Moisture
Sunlight
Notes:


Siberian Squill is a spring perennial which can grow from 10cm to 20cm tall and 5cm wide from a purple bulb. Each bulb produces two to four subulate leaves with parallel venation. As the leaves grow, a blue radially symmetrical flower develops on a single stem. Each flower has six petals and six stamens, and are arranged singly or in racemes of two or three. Petals may be reflexed to the horizontal when sunlight is bright, but are more often cup-shaped. The flowers are usually blue, but there is a variety of siberian squill (scilla siberica-alba) which bloom white. The pollen from siberian squill is dark blue and is transported primarily be bees, as well as other insects. After flowering, the flower stems become limp as capsules (pods) mature. At maturity, the capsules become purple and split open, releasing small, dark brown seeds. When the seeds are mature, the leaves wither and the plant goes dormant until the next spring.

Plant Height 10cm to 20cm
Habitat Forests, Thickets, Clearings, Lawns, Gardens
Leaves Subulate
Leaf Margin Entire
Leaf Venation Parallel
Stems Smooth Stems
Flowering Season April to May
Flower Type Radially Symmetrical
Flower Colour Blue or White
Pollination Bees, Insects
Flower Gender Flowers are hermaphrodite and the plants are self-fertile
Fruit Hard round purple seeds
USDA Zone 3B (-34°C to -37°C) cold weather limit


The following health hazards should be noted when handling or choosing a location to plant siberian squill:

TOXIC
Siberian Squill is considered to be toxic.

-Click here- or on the thumbnail image to see an artist rendering, from Tele Botanica, of siberian squill. (This image will open in a new browser tab)

-Click here- or on the thumbnail image to see a magnified view, from Mariluna, of the bulbs created by siberian squill for growth and propagation. (This image will open in a new browser tab)


Siberian Squill can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under one other name:
     
     

Mayapple can be translated into the following select languages:

Arabic بصل الفار سيبيريا Bulgarian Сибирски синчец Chinese (Sim) 西伯利亚海葱
Croatian Sibirski morski luk Czech sibiřský squill Danish sibirisk squill
Dutch Siberische squill Esperanto   Estonian Siberi squill
Finnish siperian squill French scille sibérien German Sibirische Blaustern
Greek Σιβηρίας σκίλλης Hebrew חצב סיבירי Hungarian szibériai csillagvirág
Italian scilla siberiano Japanese シベリア海葱 Korean 시베리아 스퀼
Punjabi   Lithuanian Sibiro scylė Norwegian  
Persian   Polish   Portuguese  
Romanian   Russian сибирский морской лук Slovak sibírsky squill
Spanish squill siberiano Swedish   Tagalog Siberya skpil
Turkish Sibirya adasoğanı Ukrainian Сибірський морський лук Vietnamese cây hải song siberian

The MIROFOSS database offers free printable garden tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify plant samples in a garden. Click on the tags shown on the the screen or -click here- to download a full size jpeg image for a siberian squill identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer.

What's this?
This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to MIROFOSS articles. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by smart phone cameras. This QR Code is unique to this MIROFOSS article.

What can I do with it?
You can copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, web site, magazines, or newspaper so smart phone users can scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to this specific article.

Description RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
Description Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Folklore Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 9781845337315.
Biology Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum,
Image Rendering USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Environment National Audubon Society. Field Guide To Wildflowers (Eastern Region): Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-40232-2
Physical Identification National Audubon Society. Field Guide To Wildflowers (Eastern Region): Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-40232-2
November 01, 2015 The last time this page was updated
©2021 MIROFOSS™ Foundation